116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Iowa high school football 2023 preseason rankings: The Gazette’s Class 5A poll
Southeast Polk starts at No. 1
Is a new dynasty in the making in the largest class of Iowa high school football?
Southeast Polk has won back-to-back Class 5A state titles after a runner-up finish in 2020 to Ankeny, the champion that broke West Des Moines Dowling’s largest-class streak of seven consecutive championships.
Meet the Class 5A No. 1 team: Southeast Polk
Some big names — Abu Sama (now at Iowa State), Kadyn Proctor (now at Alabama) and Obald Niyonkuru (also at ISU), to name a few — are gone, but the Rams bring back multiple all-staters for a three-peat bid.
Southeast Polk received five of six first-place votes and starts the 2023 season ranked No. 1 in The Gazette’s Class 5A preseason poll.
Iowa State commit Connor Moberly is the state’s top-ranked quarterback recruit and one of three returning all-state players, along with linebacker Draven Woods and offensive lineman Brayden Harmon.
Moberly completed 70.7 percent of his passes last fall for 1,954 yards and 14 touchdowns. The Rams’ leading receiver, Carson Robbins (743 yards, six TDs) also returns. CJ Phillip, West Des Moines Dowling’s top rusher last season (823 yards, 13 TDs), is a new addition to the backfield.
Which 2022 Dome teams are in the Class 5A rankings?
West Des Moines Dowling picked up the other first-place vote in the preseason poll and is ranked No. 2. The Maroons were upset by rival West Des Moines Valley in last year’s state semifinals. The Tigers are fifth to begin 2023.
With Class 5A’s leading returning passer in junior Will Nuss (2,259 yards, 23 touchdowns) and Minnesota tight end commit Jacob Simpson, Johnston is ranked fourth after making its semifinal debut last fall.
Who are the ranked Gazette area Class 5A teams?
All-state linebacker Calvin White and No. 6 Cedar Rapids Kennedy will participate in a Saturday night showcase game at Kingston Stadium. The Cougars get an immediate chance to move up in the poll as they face second-ranked Dowling.
One spot behind Kennedy is No. 7 Iowa City High, which has to replace Gazette Male Athlete of the Year Ben Kueter but counts quarterback Drew Larson (1,841 yards, 18 TDs) — an all-state defensive back — among top returnees.
Four of the top five tacklers are back for No. 10 Linn-Mar, including Iowa State tight end commit Keaton Roskop.
No. 3 Cedar Falls is the highest-ranked Eastern Iowa team.
What are some key Week 1 Class 5A games to watch?
Games kick off at 7 p.m. on Friday unless otherwise noted.
- No. 1 Southeast Polk at No. 5 West Des Moines Valley
- No. 2 West Des Moines Dowling at No. 6 Cedar Rapids Kennedy (Kingston Stadium), 6:15 p.m. Saturday
- No. 9 Waukee Northwest at No. 4 Johnston
- No. 3 Cedar Falls at Cedar Rapids Prairie, 7:15 p.m.
- Joliet Catholic (Ill.) at No. 7 Iowa City High
The Gazette’s Iowa high school football Class 5A preseason rankings
| Ranking | School | 2022 season | Poll points |
| 1 | Southeast Polk | 12-1, state champion | 57 (5 first-place) |
| 2 | West Des Moines Dowling | 10-2, state semifinalist | 52 (1) |
| 3 | Cedar Falls | 8-3, state quarterfinalist | 39 |
| 4 | Johnston | 8-4, state semifinalist | 38 |
| 5 | West Des Moines Valley | 8-5, state runner-up | 30 |
| 6 | Cedar Rapids Kennedy | 7-3, playoff qualifier | 24 |
| 7 | Iowa City High | 6-4, playoff qualifier | 23 |
| 8 | Pleasant Valley | 9-1, playoff qualifier | 21 |
| 9 | Waukee Northwest | 6-5, state quarterfinalist | 13 |
| 10 | Linn-Mar | 6-4, playoff qualifier | 9 |
Others receiving votes: Ankeny 6, Ankeny Centennial 6, Ames 5, Waukee 4, Iowa City Liberty 2, Cedar Rapids Prairie 1
Find the full rankings here if you’re having trouble seeing them on this post.
Comments: nathan.ford@thegazette.com
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